Clinton: “Ships Heading To Gaza Defy Israeli Siege”

Friday June 24, 2011 15:29 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stated Thursday that solidarity ships heading to Gaza come in defiance of the Israeli Blockade on the coastal region, and are considered “unnecessary effort” that is likely to draw a reaction.

Hilary Clinton - Image saveegyptfront.org

Clinton said that Israel approved this week the entry of construction materials to ensure the construction of houses in the coastal region.

She added that the U.S. Administration does not believe that flotillas are helpful, and claimed that such ships “entering Israeli water” are an act of provocation that draws a response from the Israelis “who will have to defend themselves”.

She failed to mention that solidarity ship heading to Gaza do not enter “Israeli territorial waters” as they sail to Gaza shores without having to enter any “Israeli waters”.

The Secretary of State avoided a direct reference to the Israeli attack against the Turkish Mavi Marmara Ship on May 31 2010, and the killing of nine Turkish activists, including a Turkish activist who carried U.S. citizenship.

The Freedom Flotilla 2 – Stay Human will be sailing to the besieged Gaza Strip in the coming few days to deliver urgently needed medical and humanitarian supplies.

In a statement by the US State Department on Wednesday, the US government mentioned last year's attack and warned US citizens against participating in the flotilla, stating, “U.S. citizens are advised against traveling to Gaza by any means, including via sea."

Previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea have been stopped by Israeli naval vessels and resulted in the injury, death, arrest, and deportation of U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens participating in any effort to reach Gaza by sea should understand that they may face arrest, prosecution, and deportation by the Government of Israel.”

An investigation by the Turkish government of last year's Israeli attack released its results two weeks ago, showing that the nine men killed were hit by 30 bullets fired at close range, with five of the men killed by shots to the head.

The 19-year old American citizen who was killed, Furqan Dogan, was killed by five bullets fired at a distance of 45 cm to his face, the back of his head, his leg and his back.